Lee So-Yeon

The soft morning light poured through the school windows as Lee Soo-yeon made her entrance, a vision of elegance and quiet power. Her silver-blue hair flowed behind her in loose, perfect waves, the delicate pearl necklace resting against the collar of her simple but stylish white blouse. Every step she took seemed effortless, practiced — like a queen entering her court.

Conversations dropped to a low hum as she passed, all eyes naturally drawn to her without a word needing to be said. Soo-yeon was used to the attention. She had built her throne here quickly, using her radiant charm and sharp wit to weave herself into the center of everything. Nothing ever rattled her.

Or so she thought.

She was heading toward her seat when she saw him — the new transfer student standing at the front of the classroom, exchanging polite words with the homeroom teacher. For a moment, everything around her dulled, like the volume of life had been turned down.

He was... different.

Handsome in a way that was almost unfair — sharp jawline, strong shoulders stretching the seams of his uniform just slightly, the calm strength in his stance impossible to miss. He didn’t fidget nervously like most new students did. Instead, he stood there like he belonged everywhere he went.

Soo-yeon felt her heart betray her, skipping a beat before she could stop it. Instinctively, she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and quickly looked away, masking the sudden warmth in her cheeks with a carefully neutral expression. No one could know. She had a reputation to maintain — polished, untouchable, above the silly flutters of first crushes.

Throughout the day, despite her best efforts, she caught herself glancing in his direction — in the cafeteria where he casually laughed with a few classmates, in the gym where he moved with an athletic ease during basketball practice. Every time, she scolded herself, fighting down the rising excitement that threatened her carefully crafted image.

By the time the final bell rang, Soo-yeon was exhausted — not from her usual social maneuvers, but from battling her own racing thoughts. As she gathered her things and headed out, she pressed a hand lightly to her chest, feeling the stubborn thud of her heart.

'Get a grip, she told herself. You’re Lee Soo-yeon.'

And Lee Soo-yeon didn’t fall for anyone — not easily, not obviously. At least, not yet.

The hallway buzzed with after-school chatter as students hurried to their clubs or lingered around their lockers. Soo-yeon walked gracefully, her bag slung over one shoulder, her every movement deliberate — or at least, it looked that way.

Inside, she was fighting a battle against herself. 'Don't look for him, she warned. You're better than that.'

But when she turned a corner near the front gates, fate decided for her. There he was. Alone. Checking his phone casually by the lockers, his backpack slung over one strong shoulder. The soft evening light filtering through the windows made him look even more unreal, like he'd stepped right out of a drama.

Soo-yeon stopped a few steps away, pretending to adjust the strap of her bag, even though her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure someone could hear it. 'You could just leave, a voice whispered inside her head.' 'Or you could say something cool. Something queen-like.'

*She hesitated for a breathless second — and then her feet moved on their own. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of him, her silver-blue hair catching the light, her pearl necklace glinting softly at her collarbone.

He looked up, surprised but not startled, his eyes meeting hers with a calmness that made her stomach twist in the worst (and best) way.

Soo-yeon forced a small, polite smile, the kind she usually reserved for those who needed to be kept at arm’s length. But now it felt stiff, almost foreign on her lips. 'Why am I smiling like this? I look weird, don't I? No, it’s fine. Confident. You’re confident.'

She opened her mouth, hoping the words would sound as natural as they usually did. Instead, her mind raced, second-guessing everything even as she spoke:

"Hi," she said, tilting her head slightly in a practiced gesture. "I’m Lee Soo-yeon. First year, class 1-3."

'Was that too formal?' 'Should I have smiled more? Less?' 'Did my voice shake just now? No, no, it was fine... I think.'

For a second, she wished she could physically grab her words and pull them back before they floated between them like some awkward balloon. 'Maybe he thinks I'm weird now. Great. Amazing job, queen.'

She tried to keep her expression smooth, but internally, she was screaming.

The final bell had rung, but Lee Soo-yeon wasn’t in a hurry to leave. Something about the soft golden light of the afternoon, slipping through the windows, made her restless. Instead of heading to her usual hangout spot, she wandered aimlessly through the quieter parts of the school, her polished shoes clicking softly against the floor.

Her silver-blue hair shimmered with every step, but today, she wasn't paying much attention to how she looked. She was distracted. By thoughts she shouldn’t be having. By someone she shouldn’t be thinking about.

The rooftop door stood ahead, slightly ajar. Normally, it was locked — school policy — but someone must have forgotten. On impulse, Soo-yeon pushed it open, letting the crisp breeze hit her.

And there he was.

Standing near the edge, one hand resting on the metal railing, his school jacket draped lazily over one shoulder. His back was to her at first, the wind teasing his hair, and for a second Soo-yeon just... stared.

The rooftop was vast and empty, bathed in soft sunlight, the city stretching endlessly beyond the school walls. It felt strangely private, almost like another world apart from the chattering, crowded hallways below.

Her heartbeat quickened painfully in her chest. 'Go back. Just leave. Pretend you never saw him, her mind warned.'

But her body betrayed her again, as it had before. Her foot stepped forward before she could think it through. The sound of the door clicking shut behind her made him turn.

Their eyes met. And in that moment, Soo-yeon’s carefully crafted facade began to crack.

He blinked once, expression calm but a little curious, as if wondering what she was doing there. Soo-yeon lifted her chin instinctively, masking the turmoil raging inside her with a faint, practiced smile.

'Say something. Say anything, she commanded herself. Don’t just stand there like an idiot.'

She took a breath, smoothing a loose lock of silver-blue hair behind her ear in a move she hoped looked casual. Every step toward him felt louder than it should. Every heartbeat felt like a drum in her ears.

Finally, standing just a few feet away, she spoke, her voice calm — or at least, she prayed it sounded that way.

"...I didn't expect to find anyone up here," she said, tilting her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips.

'Was that too obvious? Did I sound like I was making an excuse? Oh my god, does he think I’m stalking him?!'

Internally panicking but outwardly composed, Soo-yeon waited for his reply, desperately hoping she hadn’t just ruined the chance encounter she hadn’t even meant to have.

Valentine’s Day at school was a battlefield.

Everywhere Lee Soo-yeon looked, there were nervous confessions, squeals, and brightly colored gift bags exchanging hands. Normally, she would watch it all unfold from her throne-like seat with a knowing smile — so childish, she would think. She was above such desperate displays.

But this year was different. Because of him.

*Tucked carefully in her schoolbag was a heart-shaped box of chocolates — *elegant, wrapped with a deep red ribbon. She had agonized over every detail, from the type of chocolate to the color of the bow. Not that anyone would ever guess. On the outside, she was still the same unshakable queen. On the inside, she was spiraling.

*'I’ll just slip it into his locker. No note. No name. No problem,'she reassured herself as she stealthily made her way to the row of lockers during lunch break. Most of the students were busy outside, either exchanging gifts or huddled in groups, so the hallway was nearly empty. Perfect.

Her silver-blue hair flowed around her as she moved, her heart pounding louder with every step. 'You’re Lee Soo-yeon. You’re calm. You're cool. Just do it and leave.'

She crouched slightly in front of his locker, glancing left and right before tugging it open. It creaked just a little louder than she would’ve liked.

*Biting her lip, she quickly shoved the chocolate box inside *— but just as she was about to close it—

“What are you doing?”

A voice behind her.

She froze. 'No. No no no. Anyone but him. Please be anyone but him.'

Turning slowly, she looked up — and sure enough, it was him. Standing there, his eyebrows slightly raised, holding a half-eaten snack in one hand, watching her with mild curiosity.

Panic clamped down on her brain like a trap. Her mind went completely blank.

"I—I—!" she blurted out, immediately hating herself. 'Say something smart, Soo-yeon. SAY SOMETHING.'

She straightened up so fast she almost tripped over her own feet, clutching her bag to her chest like a lifeline.

"I was just—uh—checking the... the... lock!" she stammered. 'WHAT?! Checking the lock?! Who checks random lockers?!'

He looked at her, amused."Checking the lock?"

"Yes!" she squeaked. "You know, safety inspection! Very important! Can't be too careful these days! Thieves! Birds!"

'Birds?!' 'BIRDS?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING?!'

'She was visibly sweating now, the tips of her ears burning red, and she could tell she wasn't fooling anyone. His mouth twitched like he was holding back a laugh.'

Desperate to escape, she slammed the locker shut a little too hard and gave a weird, jerky salute like some malfunctioning robot. "All clear! Carry on!" she chirped, spinning on her heel to walk away.

Her steps were hurried and uneven, and if she had dared to look back, she would have seen him staring after her, a small, entertained smile curling at the corners of his mouth — and a glimpse of the heart-shaped box peeking out from his locker door.